I don't like it for Minny. They have Martin and the young Shabaz on the wing. Already have a lottery pick, and will most likely take a sf. Decent bench, so I don't see why they want more picks. And while I think Pek is overpaid, and the rise of Dieng is well noted, I don't think this is a reason to urgently move Pek. Bigs are a luxury, and if Dieng is for real, then it's a huge plus to have both he and Pek. And we can assume Dieng will get a lot of pt next year spelling Pek.

Yeah, Boozer wasn't even worth a 2nd round pick. They attempted to trade him to the Suns for what amounts to one of the last picks in the 1st round and Emeka Okafor's expiring contract and the Suns said no. Even though the Suns desperately could have used some offense in the post, which is the one thing that Boozer can still provide, and they still didn't want him. His contract WAS immovable. Maybe, just maybe, if the Bulls package assets along with Carlos's contract they might get New York to bite on a sign and trade (if Carmelo tells the Knicks he is going to Chicago no matter what). Maybe both 1st rounders this year and either Butler or Snell. Nobody wants to see Jimmy Butler go, but the reality of the situation is that Carmelo Anthony's contract would basically force the Bulls to let Jimmy go because his contract is up after next season. They will most likely offer around $8 million per season (firm, similar to the firm $10 million they offered Luol Deng) and I believe that he and his agent would expect a bit more on the open market considering his elite wing defense.

Also, the Deng trade won't be properly assesed for a couple years but at IT'S BEST, the Bulls could swap 2015 1st Rounders with the Cavs if the Cavs make the playoffs. IF, and it's a big IF, the Cavs can slide into the 7 or 8 seed in the East, and the Bulls hold to form under the Thibs era (with a healthy Rose) and finish with one of the best records in the NBA (Thibs's first 2 seasons, with full season's from Rose, the Bulls finished with the league's best regular season record) they could swap the 30th pick in the 1st for the 15th pick (assuming that the West's 8 seed has a much better record than the East's 8 seed again, which isn't THAT big of an assumption). The new ownership in Sacramento seems hellbent on getting to the playoffs, but the Bulls only need the Kings to finish better than the 10th pick in 2015, 2016, or 2017. It's not a given and then becomes a 2nd rounder in 2017, but with a Top 3 center in Cousins, developing young talent and new ownership looking to improve (the Rudy Gay trade is very indicitive of their desire to compete IMO), it could give the Bulls something like the...

11th pick in 2015 and the 15th pick in 2015 (<----best case scenario) instead of the 28th - 30th pick in 2015 (assuming they are healthy and add an offensive free agent) for a guy in Luol Deng that they had no intention of resigning anyway based on price. Adding Mirotic sometime in the next 3 seasons, along with 10 other potential rookies and the Bulls have a chance to add 2 or 3 very good young players. That's how teams stay above water in the modern NBA. They can also use these assets to bring someone in of value.

As I mentioned earlier, the Knicks have ZERO picks in the upcoming 2014 draft. Even with Carmelo opting out and leaving, the Knicks still don't have room under the salary cap to add anyone of value in the 2014 off-season. They will be adding a new coach, if it's Steve Kerr it's a new coach with ZERO coaching experience, who will be adding a system in the triangle offense that requires time for players to acclimate and also requires the correct personnel. Would it be crazy to accept Boozer, 2 1st rounders, and either Snell (who I really like as a future wing player who is long, athletic, and can shoot but needs a lot of time to develop) or Butler (who no one wants to see leave but maybe expendable due to salary cap restrictions) for Carmelo Anthony? They can jump start their rebuilding with ACTUAL ASSETS that fit into the triangle offense instead of letting Melo walk for nothing.

Then, Carlos Boozer might have some late 1st or 2nd round draft pick potential. Unlike many of the other amnesty provision "victims" (Tyrus Thomas is a great example, who also provided the Bulls with the 16th pick in the upcoming draft) he actually has some value as a low post scorer for teams tha are lacking. Only half a season of Boozer's contract is a lot easier to stomach (especially in mid-season, when there are limited free agent options to improve a team) than 1 and 1/2 years of Boozer's contract (remember that a team cannot amnesty a player they acquired in a trade).

A) Him screaming non-stop like he has tourette's on the court, similar to his "Tajee Whoo!" scream

B) Him celebrating his soon to be FULL-TIME replacement Taj Gibson blocking a shot while his $17 million dollar @ss sits on the bench in the 4th Quarter

OR....(most likely)....

C) The sound Bulls' opponents make when his 6'8" 260lb PF body elevates a digusting 4 inches off the ground and gets blocked by the rim?

I can't wait to be rid of all 3. But, even though the front office of John Paxson and Gar Forman PROMISED that the money saved by trading Luol Deng for draft picks WOULD be recycled into basketball operations Jerry Reinsdorf HATES paying someone $17 million to play on another team. I don't know if Carmelo Anthony knows that his scoring ability isn't the only major component that he would bring to Chicago's off-season. He is one of the few superstars in the league that would guarantee the Bulls would use the amnesty provision on Carlos. They might keep him if both Melo and Nikola Mirotic don't join the Bulls this summer. Gross. I am so sick of watching him and love watching Taj Gibson play, who I think (and I know people think this is crazy) can average better than ANY season Carlos Boozer had with the Bulls. Dangerously close to the 20ppg 10rpg 1.5bpg that elite post players average. Especially since he will most likely play 40+ minutes per game becasue Thibs is nuts.

If the Bulls are to pursue Melo then Boozer could be shipped out to a team willing to take on his massive expiring contract. Amnestying Boozer is not enough to make a play for Melo so there could be more players involved to an extent that it doesn't look like a possibility anymore.

Wouldn't be surprised if Boozer finishes his contract with the Bulls next season.

I've read a lot of people.. Actually bulls fans to be specific suggesting they get a 2nd round pick for him. Lol. Bulls will have to include a pick or a future pick for any team to consider it.

I'd be fine with the Lakers taking on his contract for the 16th pick and a 2nd or a future 1st or 2nd. Bulls will need all the space they can if they really want to make a run at Melo, those draft picks could be an extra 2 and a half million to offer melo. Package one with Boozer and trade one for a future first.

The Bulls have always been careful with their money so personally I don't see them amnestying Boozer to make a run at Melo. I can see them trying to get Melo but they may have to look to trade Boozer first. The Bulls need to be careful not to gut their roster in order to try and get Melo. They also need D-Rose to return sound and play a full season, if they signed Melo and D-Rose had a set back are they much better than Knicks were this year.

Personally I think the Bulls should have resigned Deng, got Mirotic over, draft a couple of solid guys and hope D-Rose returns to near his 2008-2011 form, if so they are legit contenders. I wonder if they are persuing a franchise guy like Melo as a safety net if D-Rose isn't the player he was.

If they could move Boozer but keep Gibson, get Mirotic over and sign Melo then I'd like that deal.

Who takes Boozer is an issue I wonder if a team like Philly way under cap might take him to reach the minimum level and then look to ship him to a contender around deadline day.